Wedding Cake

Truth to tell, I hate to still talk about my wedding. But then, when I checked my Nuffnang, I found that someone was googling "Moose wedding cake" and that I feel oblige to inform whoever that particular person might be.

In here, I mentioned that I wanted a simple yet delicious cake. H's aunty owns a bakery in Klang and she makes the yummiest cookies (watch for this space for your Raya cookies) and cakes that I've tasted that I decided to initially order the cake from her. But towards the end, my MIL decided to bake the cakes (for FREE!) for me. My MIL bake the scrumptious red velvet cupcake  making Whisk RVC tastes nothing. And no, I am not being biased. Her RVC is the bomb diggity yo!

Simple yet delish!

My wedding cake consists of 2 tier cake with RVC on top and carrot cake on the bottom with vanilla buttercream frosting. And yeah, I purposely not over-decorated it. Less is more, classy and elegant. Just like the way I like my things in life to be.

Bertandang Reception

Oh my, 6 months married but I haven't share any of the pictures taken during the bertandang reception.

Our reception was held on 8th January at the Grand Ballroom, Concorde Shah Alam. It was a family event (and limited guests) with traditional theme. We had dancers (from UiTM) performing traditional dances, pencak silat and a funny and witty seloka performed by one of the guests (and family members). I promise to share the video here soon, insya Allah. My Ayah (FIL) even dedicated a song to us, albeit sounded bit nervous. HAHA.

The emcees was none other than H's sister and cousin. The whole family, headed by my FIL, was the wedding planner, the event coordinator as well as the the floor manager for the event. Ayah was the one to come out with these different programs - dances, pencak silat, the event flow etc. Like I said, it was a truly family event and a successful one. I couldn't ask for more. Thank you for organizing such event to be an event to be remembered for the rest or my life. And if anyone ever need a wedding planner or event coordinator services, kindly contact my FIL.

Haha, kidding ayah, kidding!

Since a photo represent a thousand words and I am too lazy to even write 10 sentences (eh ye ke? macam banyak je aku membebel-bebel tadi), I'll let the pictures do the talking. Wah, gitu senang sekali kerja aku. HAHA.

Getting dolled up

These two items are up for rent

1 round of group photo

Hari keluarga Celcom. HAHA

The Crew who made the event successful

Series Of Reviews

So I took the initiative to make life (mine and yours) easier by compiling everything for easy reference in one post. Feel free to read and email me if you want to know more!

1. Wedding Dress: Part 1
2. Wedding Dress: Part 2 (UPDATED)
3. Wedding Dress: Part 3 (UPDATED)
4. Wedding Decoration: Part 1 (UPDATED)
5. Wedding Decoration: Part 2 (UPDATED)
6. Make-up
7. Wedding Services
8. Wedding Shoes 
9. Honeymoon in Bali: Accommodation
10. Honeymoon in Bali: Part 1
11. Honeymoon in Bali: Part 2
12. Honeymoon in Bali: Part 3

Happy reading!

Wedding Shoes

”Really and truly you can never have too many pairs; they are all different. You need a pair for every mood – and everyone knows that women have a lot of different moods.” – Anonymous

Truly, I would consider myself as a shoe girl. I do not have any fetish towards shoes but I just love them, a lot. I have all kinds of shoes - flats, towering heels, Chucks, sandals, boots. You name it, I got it. As for the wedding shoes, I know that I never wanted to wear those cookie-cutter pointy wedding shoes that just looks so matchy matchy with the wedding dress itself. I even made it known in this entry and this about my preference.

I love my wedding shoes. Didn't mean to brag but I do, I really do especially my nikah shoes. It's a gold 4" sling back peep toe ala Christian Louboutin. Which is a major point because I adore Louboutin's shoes. I saw the quite the same shoes on the net and instantly knew that I wanted the same one. Luck really was on my side because I spotted a similar one at fraction of the price at Vincci about 3 weeks before the wedding. What are the odds, huh? But, can you believe it? Vincci y'all! Jadi pengajarannya di sini adalah, yang murah itu tidak semestinya tidak cantik dan tiada kelas.

The shoes for the reception was bought at Tangs, Pavillion. It's again a 3" satin sling back peep toe and I purposely bought it in gray (though I was wearing white) because wearing mismatching shoes IS my signature style. I would wear blue top and jeans and wear red ballerina, I mean there's no written rules that you have to match everything, right?. Besides, gray was the theme colour for the wedding. So yeah, I incorporated that into my outfit.

And there, the story of my shoes.

"I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty."

- Imelda Marcos

Review: Wedding Services

Gosh, I just realized that I haven't actually finish the review on my wedding. I know it's already been 4 months since the so-called big day (nothing big and grand about my wedding, honestly) so I guess, I better hurry up.

Photographer

Since we just received the wedding albums of the three receptions (solemnization, my side of reception and his reception), it's really appropriate to start the review on "Services" with the photographer.

I made it known in this entry that we hired Fadza Ishak as our OP for the solemnization and reception in Perlis. He (alongside Fad Manaf) was recommended by arwah Taufiq Shariff (May he rest in peace). I think I already mentioned the quality that we're looking in OP in the previous entry already. I love the moment captured, the soft editing and the vintage/indie flair/feel to it. Love love love!

Now, our tandang OP is a bit tricky because we didn't have much say in it. It's the same OP during the engagement. Now, I shall reserve my comments about it. Didn't want to spark any uneasy feeling and controversy! HAHA.

But me being me who like to take matters into my own hand, I know that the event for my tandang is a bit grand-er (which is subjective) to what we had during my super simple homey wedding, so we engaged in a back-up photographer. A friend of mine introduced them to me knowing that we had the same taste in photography. Again, that vintage-y and indie feeling. Besides, their work was feature in UK wedding website when they covered Fad Manaf's wedding. Can't comment much on their outcome cos we haven't got our photos yet.

MUST.PESTER.THEM.AGAIN.


Videographer

I bet, you already knew about our last minute decision about videographer and the luck that was on our side. We were lucky to able to hire CST during solemnization (at cheaper price). I love the video highlight to the max, and our friends love it too. I gotta take credit for the song selection because I chose it! Very catchy and fun, isn't it? Watching and listening to the song makes me happy as I am not a fan of sad and sappy wedding video. Boleh depress kot kalau aku tengok! And if you are wondering where is the reception video, no, we didn't have any.

Recap of the solemnization

Untitled from Mustaza Mustafa on Vimeo.

Bertandang videographer is nothing to shout about. Very plain and old fashion. If I have the time, I'll put it up. But to edit and crop it into watchable length is painstaking that I might give up. But, we'll see about that. There is one segment that I'd love to share with you lovelies. Do wait, ok?

Ok, what else? I think OP and OV are the key-point of a wedding. And they my dearest, can make or break the memories of your day. I would really recommend you to invest a little bit more on the photographer (and videographer, if you want to have any) and follow your heart's desire but be rational, ok? My heart desire is Max Wanger but that is absurd isn't it if I were to follow my heart's desire. What I meant was, follow what is within your means. I already write (bad) review on the caterer and DJ so they don't deserve to be mentioned twice here.

So, does that mean that I am done with the wedding review?

Phewww, *wipe sweat off forehead*

Finally.



p/s: I am very private person when it comes to photo sharing and Facebook. But, I am giving the chance for you to view my wedding albums though I am only giving access to friends of friends only. So here's the link to the album:

{ Teaser } Solemnization
{ Teaser } Reception
{ 251210 } Outdoor

Review: Make-up

Solemnization & Reception

My MUA for both solemnization and reception in Perlis was Kak Ram. I was introduced to her by Qistin when I panicked and started searching for MUA during my engagement. Qistin had Kak Ram on her day, as well as Sumpit. Nasrah had her during her engagement. Betulkan?

Kak Ram was punctual and bought along her friend, who turned to be a great entertainer among us because she is very friendly and bubble and did a great job in calming me after a-know-it-all aunty masuk campur and tried to ruin everything incident.

I love Kak Ram's touch and had no complaints whatsoever. For the price that I paid, I personally think she did a good job. I asked for natural look during solemnization and got it. I asked for smokey eyes and smoldering look during reception and she nailed it. I even instructed her not to use any pink hues on my face because my skin has yellow undertone and pink would made look washed out (the reason why I don't wear pink!), not too much obvious shading because I personally think shading is so passe. She listened and delivered.

During the reception dolled up session, she was feeling experimental that she added gold-ish tone to my lipstick and I ended up looking fierce (not Tyra Bank's fierce but mak tiri fierce). When I complained she changed the colour into something softer (I think coral) and I ended up looking pretty. HAHAHA. Muntah!

She's a nice person to work with and you'll feel at ease.

OMG, I can't believe that my skin would actually look this flawless. That's the power of good make-up tools and skilled MUA y'all.

Can you believe that this picture was taken after we had our makan beradap and under scorching hot sunlight at 5pm? Make-up still stays.

Bertandang 

I think I was very lucky to have Kak Sai on H's reception. Kak Sai is actually MIL's second cousin and the best thing is that we got harga sedara y'alls! Hehe.

I really let Kak Sai did her magic on my face this time. Kire ala-ala let loose la gitu. Because I trust her and so far her works are superb. Have you not seen all the celebrities that she dolled up? Gorgeous to the max!


Kak Sai came with her friend Azie. A bit late because she went to the wrong hotel! HAHA. She waited for about 30 minute at the lobby of Grand Dorsett Subang only to realize that our room's number is not even exist. Of course la sebab we're at Concorde Shah Alam! Lucky she still had ample to work her magic and honestly, I've never felt any prettier! Muntah hijau. HAHA

The problem with me is that I can't carry much make-up on my face or I'll end up looking like an extra from Chinese Opera. I can't even wear heavy fake eyelashes because my eye's shape. So, to have both MUA successfully nailed it in making me pretty, I couldn't be happier.

Whoever MUA that you choose is subjected to your preference. Regardless of the price that you pay, be it RM1000 per session or at mere RM500, make sure that it's worth the money. Though make-up no doubt will indeed make you look pretty, I believe inner beauty plays an important role.

Jadi, bersihkan hati anda dari sebarang perasaan iri hati dan hasad dengki. Banyakkan mengambil wudu' (petua cliche artis), insya Allah kecantikan dalaman anda akan lebih menyerlah. Ya Allah, apa poyo benar ayat aku ni! Ampun please?! HAHA.

Review: Wedding Decoration (Final)

The centerpiece and the initial

The Centerpiece

My centerpiece decoration is a simple one. I used recycled sauce bottles/mason jars that I've collected for the past 10 months. As for the flowers, yellow pompom chrysanthemum and white daisies were used. Then I filled the jar with this yellow gel-like balls that expand in water. Sorry for the long description as I totally forgot what's the thingamajing is called. Then the jar was tied of with grey ribbon. A simple centerpiece that took me less than 30 minute. Since I had not collected enough jars/bottles to cater the 20 tables that we had, I only use the centerpiece to decorated the tables at the VIP tent and there were about 7 of them.

The S&H initials

The initials

One week prior to our wedding, a friend of mine got married. She had the whole garden concept for her wedding since it was held at Taman Rimba TTDI. It was a combined reception of hers and her sister. One of the wedding decoration were the S & H initial. Both her and her husband had the same initial (S) and that of her sister and her BIL is H. I am mostly known as Moose among my friends but Syikin to my family and my husband's. Well, at times I feel like I have split personality because I have to juggle of being called by 2 different name. But H is still H. So, I borrowed 2 sets from her and had it decorated with white daisies. The initials were put as a backdrop for our makan beradap (so-called je la) and at the front gate of my house (as you can see in our solemnization video).

The Hantaran

Being the gigih bride that I was and feeling too much creative at that time, I did ALL 7 of the hantaran arrangement to H myself. It was easy because I already knew what flowers I wanna use, how the arrangement gonna be like etc. albeit it was my first time doing hantaran arrangement. So it was easy peasy. Flowers used were green/white eustoma, white peacock, sweet william, and yellow pompom in some of the dulang. As for the white base, it's a white ceramic plate bought from KK Home Deco at only RM2 per piece! And it can be used as a serving plate later which what I am using right now. Talks about being practical! Hehe. The dulang was rented from my cousin's daughter's friend at RM3 per piece.

Patchi chocolates

Macaroons, Gucci perfume set, Hugo Boss shoes

Custom-made shirt & JOOP! belt, Lab Series skin care, wedding ring

Miscellanous

I draped the two roman pillars at our car porch with fresh ivy leaves to create that garden-y feeling since the wedding was held at home and we do have small garden surrounding the house compound. I don't have the picture but you can catch the glimpse of in our solemnization video.

I handmade all the fabric flower headbands worn by my cousins and my cousin's kids. The same fabric flowers were worn by the wedding committee as corsage. The fabrics used were leftover from my mom's thai silk and my sister's chiffon in various shades of gray, and yellow and white tulle bought at Kedai Riben at Jalan TAR. I used flower-shaped button to complete the flowers. The tutorial can be google-d. I can't remember exactly where I found mine but I am sure, there are many out there.

Ottoman pillow

During our solemnization, we had two Ottoman pillows rented out from Ashylla of White Lace Tale Wedding. She's very pleasant to deal with. If you are interested in having the same Ottoman pillows on your solemnization, kindly contact her for further details.

The guests tents were decorated with white and yellow paper lantern of various sizes bought from Petaling Street. I am planning to sell off all the paper lantern up to 50% off its original price. I have about 50 pieces of yellow and white (various size) lanterns. Email me if you are interested to buy. If you need it urgently, you may have to bear the postage charge since they are at my parents' house in Perlis.

Don't worry if this post is too wordy and you wanna see some pictures. Pics will be uploaded soon as I am updating from work. It's one of those rare times where the boss isn't around and be demanding and ridiculous until I cannot breath.

Wedding Mishaps

It's only been two month, yet I find that it's already irrelevant for me to still gush over my wedding. Is it somewhat normal or I just lack the bride genes in my bones?

However, I promise I will continue with the reviews that I owe you guys. Soon, insya Allah.

Little people know that there were mishaps happened on the wedding day. Oh yes, a simple wedding such as mine also had its fair share of misfortune. Naturally, I was upset. Wait, I was furious but decided to let it all go on the day itself. Why? Because, if your only dream is to be married to your beloved fiance and that the akad is the only thing that matters the most to you, then cliche enough, everything else doesn't matter. So it happened to me. And I let it go knowing that at that time, I am already his wife. And that what matters the most, to me.

Let me tell you what exactly had happened.

• The caterer (from Jitra Hell).   

Boy, do they know how to spoil everything! During discussion with my parents, they said that no additional charge for marquee tent. 1 week prior setting up, they said that it was a mistake made and a marquee tent will be charged extra at RM50/tent. They also promised to come at least 1 day early to set up the table and chairs. But they come right after the akad nikah makan-makan.  My parents were pissed off like hell. I was this close of cursing them (don't get me started on my cursing skill). Lucky we have concern relatives who helped and set up the tables. Don't get me started on the fact that they are so lame that they couldn't provide me white table clothes and white tent-scallop that I requested. Amboi, masa discussion semua aku boleh dapat kononnya siap kerabat Kedah lagi konon client, that I had to settle for grey tent-scallop and maroon(!) table clothes.

I had no control over the set up of the main table and all because they were late, remember? It didn't surprise me that it turned out to be so old fashion and fugly. The only modern looking piece at the so-called VIP tent was the centerpiece and the paper lanterns hung at the tent.

The fugly main table set up and my centerpiece

Food presentation was out. I had neither Udang Panjat nor Ayam Golek Berhias as the main dish. It was like dining at a warung. Food was cold and tasteless (this probably to the fact that I was pissed off). I don't know about the rest but I was not enjoying the food, at all. The caterer gets bad review from me, for life. They lucky that they got my parents as their client. Had they had me, they'll be miserably in hell.

•  The DJ (Syok Sendiri)

This is also another mood spoiler. A good one at it. For someone who listen to various kind of music genres, from Indie to Pop to Jazz to Oldies, wedding songs selection is somewhat crucial to me. I had handpicked different genres of wedding songs from Indie, Jazz, Oldies and Pop in three languages (German, Malay and English) only to hear Memori Daun Pisang being played at my wedding! Trust me, had my husband weren't there to calm me down, I'd go and slap the DJ for his song choices had offended me for I consider myself to have good taste in music. I instructed my sister to politely ask him to play MY songs only for him to brush her off. How rude! And he had the nerve to ask my dad for RM 250 the next day when he told us it was only RM 150! Lucky, there was no karaoke session or I'd went ballistic!

Some people really has the nerve to ruin other people's wedding.

• Red-eye

Since I had nikah and reception on the same day, naturally I was dolled up twice. I faced no problem during the nikah makeup session. Kak Ram (MUA) was punctual and I love his touch. But during the second session, it was either the eyeshadow pigment accidentally got into my eyes or my contact lens got dirty that it redden my left eye. Makeup was abruptly stopped and we had to wait for my cousin to buy Eye Mo to ease the redness. The redness subdued but it still was visible. Because of that I was late and my poor husband and his whole rombongan had to wait for me at the porch as he didn't get my SMS to come a bit late. Oh well, a bride got to do what a bride got to do. Fashionably late, that is. Hehe.

So ladies, keep Eyo Mo in handy, ok?

Enlarge to see the redness

• Last minute drama

What is a wedding without all the unnecessary drama, right? A know-it-all aunt masuk campur few minutes before my husband's rombongan came and tried to change all the plans that had been made months before. She went yapping about the set up of the hantaran trays and what not, about the carpet arrangement, (honestly who would bother about the carpet on the floor?) that my mother went all pasrah and had to mengadu to me. Guess what did I say?

"I don't give a damn (for fuck might offended my mother at that times - but wait, I think I did say fuck, haha) about what she thinks, today is my wedding day!! My, my, my!"

That my mother had to shut that particular aunt up. I didn't know what exactly my mother said, but when I came out of the room, everything looked exactly like it had been planned before. Either that or I didn't notice and couldn't be bothered at all. HAHA.

Lesson learned; Do not mess up with a bride especially when she's having her period. I repeat, DO NOT! HAHA.

• OP came alone

We took a package and in that package 2 OP should be there to cover our wedding. Our OP's friend bailed out on him last minute so we were left with only him covering for the whole 2 events. I am not upset because it was not entirely his fault but we are looking for some kind of compensation. This issue is still pending but I hope H will bring out his best negotiating skill. I don't know if my OP knows/reads my blog but if you're reading this, kindly thinks the best way because we pay good money based on the package that we took.

Well, that are the only mishaps that I could think of right now. I am in a way not still bitter over what had happened but it's just that I feel the need to share and who knows, maybe 5 or 10 years from now, can and had good laugh over these.

Our Officials

SOLEMNIZATION

Bride's attire
Material: Jakel Shah Alam
Design: Unaisah Azlan
Tudung: Unaisah Azlan

Groom's attire
Material: Jakel Shah Alam
Tailoring: BAK, Wisma Yakin
Sampin: Che Minah Songket, Kelantan

Make-up: Kak Ram (017-5556589)
Pelamin: Ali Putra Palace (019-5182504)
Hand Bouquet: DIY
Hantaran decoration: Bride (DIY), Groom (DIY)
Nikah favour: Yassin - Percetakan Siaran Sdn. Bhd.
Photographer: Fadza from Rafidelic Photography
Videographer: CST Production
Food: Self-cooking

Accessories
Nikah pillow: White Lace Tale Wedding
Solemnization table: TV console from IKEA


BRIDE'S RECEPTION

Bride's attire
Material: Jakel Shah Alam
Design: Unaisah Azlan
Veil:Unaisah Azlan
Tudung: Hajra

Groom's attire
Material: Jakel Shah Alam
Tailoring: BAK Tailor, Wisma Yakin
Acessories (sampin, tanjak, bengkung, keris, rantai, brooch): Silver Star, City One Plaza

Make-up: Kak Ram (017-5556589)
Pelamin: Ali Putra Palace (019-5182504)
Hand Bouquet: DIY
Reception favour:

VIP Favours - Romantika Shah Alam
Jam - Street's Food Products Sdn. Bhd.
Lollipop (for kids) - Silver Elegance

Photographer: Fadza from Rafidelic Photography
Food: name deleted*
Entertainment: DJ (ntahsapantah)*


*highly not recommended!

Review: Wedding Decoration

The Dais

I gotta be really honest here. When I was doing the wedding preparation, pelamin was the last thing that I am concern with. All I know is that I wanted it to be simple, sturdy enough to hold certain amount of people during the photo session without runtuh (harharhar), and not too semak that people can barely see the bride and groom.

With tight budget, looking for a nice and decent pelamin can be a headache. I had blogged about it here, here and here. To cut the story short, my pelamin decorator is Ali (Putra Palace). He is a decorator at the Putra Palace hotel and he's doing a part-time as a pelamin decorator. Out of all the 4 potential pelamin decorator that I met, Ali's price met my budget and furthermore he only uses fresh flowers. So I hired him. And here's the outcome:


My only comment is that, during our discussion, I specifically told him that I want cream, beige and yellow coloured flowers only. I didn't want roses (because they're expensive) and would settle for much lesser flowers such as chrysanthemum, eustoma or the likes. Also, I didn't want flower arrangement that is so full of leaves that you barely notice the flowers. The only leaves that I requested for was ivy leaves.

As you can see, he delivered me the opposite.

But since pelamin was not my top priority, I decided to let it go plus I was so stressed out with unnecessary last minute drama and what not, that flower arrangement seemed so petty to me. Besides, he also mentioned that he didn't manage to do the full flowers arrangement that I asked for because it was Christmas and that certain flowers are not available. He also gave 2 side table flowers in my bedroom for free which I guess, that was his way of saying sorry.

If you live in Perlis and would love to have fresh flowers pelamin, maybe you can consider him because his price is very reasonable compared to other bridal boutique in Perlis. He does decoration for high table and bedroom too.

The Hand Bouquet

I always knew that I wanted to DIY the hand bouquet. I took the time to watch various videos on YouTube for this particular DIY activity. At first, I was planning on having white daisies and yellow pom-poms for my solemnization and button hand bouquet for my reception. Sadly, time was not on my side. Half-way through the button bouquet, I decided to ditch it all together and resort to something more easy to do. Hence the yellow and cream roses for my reception. During solemnization, I had yellow pingpong flower and yellow/cream gerberas to hold onto. Decided to use them because I didn't buy enough white daisies as they're all been used up to decorate the S and H initials for the decoration (as you can see in our solemnization video)

Yellow and white gerbera

Cream/yellow roses and yellow pompom

I love the gerberas because they added that cutesy and fun look that I so yearn for my wedding. And roses though cliche will always have that classic and timeless look.

As for tandang, remember this post?. I didn't listen to my instinct when I know I should have! The hotel provided me this awful last minute white roses hand bouquet! I couldn't even look at it had Kak Sai's assistant did not added the greens. I even don't know where to begin to describe how ugly it was. The roses was not kembang, it got a plastic holder (urgh, the ultimate ugliness!), the stems were cut too short that some of the roses fell off from the flower oasis (that green spongy thingy) and the size was so small. I know that if I were to DIY the hand bouquet myself, it would look 10 times cantik than that!

So small kan? I hate the bouquet!

Next, on hantaran, centerpiece and other related decorations..

Finally...

The tribe has spoken!

(bunyi cengkerik)

Reviews shall be made on the following order as based on the voting results.

• Decoration. Review on decoration shall include but not limited to hand bouquet, centerpiece, corsage, pelamin and hantaran decoration.
• Make-up on all 3 wedding events.
• Services includes photographer, videographer and entertainment.
  

Bila nak start buat review ntah taktau. Vote je lebih. Hiks.

Okla, Insya Allah if time permits, I will do an auto-publish entry on all of the above within next week.

POLL: I would like a review on.....

Since we're one month old yesterday, so it leaves me with another 2 weeks time to do the complete review on my (so-called) big day. Workload has been piling up lately since currently I am doing 2 persons job at one time. One of my superior has left the company so no guess to whom her work is being handed over to.

I have no little time to read my personal emails, let alone update the blog. Lately, most of the entries are auto-published anyway.

At times I was having what you called a writer's block that I have difficulties in putting my thoughts on words. So in order to help me finish off all my wedding reviews, I have come up with a poll. I already got the wedding dress covered, so I am leaving that out.

It's time to vote!






p/s: I will only do review on the top 3 topics based on the voting result.

Review: Wedding Dresses Part 3

We now come to the last part of the wedding dresses review.

The Tandang Dress

The theme for my bertandang reception is traditional as per requested by my FIL. So in order to stick with the theme, H and I decided that we'll be wearing songket.

And the scout for (cheap) songket begins. One of H's cousin, who got married about 4 years ago suggested the one place that she knew that sell cheap songket from India and Pakistan is City One Plaza which situated next to Semua House at Jalan TAR. So we went there and it's indeed cheap! We got a pair of kain songket material for only RM250! And it includes the material for sampin, bengkung, tanjak for man and a small selendang for woman. And of course the 4m kain each for bride and groom.

My tandang dress was designed and made by Ezuwan Ismail, the young designer known lately for the controversial dress that Raja Farah wore. Hehehe. When we met with him early May, we approached him with the idea that it gonna be a poolside English theme reception and had him sketched 3 designs that I loved so much. Later we knew that FIL had changed his mind to a traditional Malay wedding instead. So we approached him again and had him sketched few new designs. I know that although it's traditional, I didn't want to wear kebaya and would rather stick to baju kurung silhouette. I believe that a simple nice kebaya songket need to be paired with intricate cucuk sanggul, dokoh and other traditional accessories and will automatically stands out on its own. Since I am wearing hijab, I can't donned that all and took a slightly modern approach to it.

So there, a simple baju kurung with mermaid cut bottom (which really kills me masa nak panjat tangga naik pelamin and high table) and with blings blings adornments on the front.

It's pretty simple and straight forward. Just like me. Nak jugak tu. HAHA. The veil is gold-ish in colour with patched lace and minimal beading. I asked for waist length veil because I am such a clutz and awkward whenever I am nervous so the chance of me tripping on the veil (if it's long) while walking is high. So better be safe than sorry girls. Ini kira ala-ala extra precaution untuk diri sendiri la. Hehe. Besides it would incurred extra cost so if you are on budget constraint, cut while you can. Gituh!

I am thinking of renting out both of groom's and bride's attire for this one. Tapi harga belum finalized lagi but rest assured, it definitely cheaper than sewa dari bridal boutique or tempah (designer or not). The veil can be rented out separately, if you like.

Review: Wedding Dresses Part 2

The continuation of the wedding dresses review.

The Reception Dress

Like I previously mentioned, the design for this particular dress is a mix and match from 3 other designs that Unaisah had sketched. When I approached her in early July 2010, I specifically mentioned that I'd love to have pleated skirt if it still fits in my budget. The original design that I had in mind was as per photo below (far right) but decided to forgo the idea as H thought it was too simple.


Then Unaisah showed her compilation of pictures when one top caught my eyes. Happy, I decided to have the same design as the top for my dress. The bottom is a circular full pleated skirt inspired from the design below.


I can't remember the exact material name but rest assured it's not silk and not chiffon. And of course, not lace. At first, our choice was woolen satin but I hate satin regardless of its price, I still hate satin even if it costs RM1000 per meter. Then suddenly my eyes caught this material which I forgot what it's called. The price is way cheaper than that of woolen satin and it's heavy. The effect that Unaisah and I wanted so that the pleated skirt will falls nicely.

Since I already have that dramatic effect of full pleats on the bottom, she did only some minimal beading works on the top just to enhance the dress and add on some pearl buttons along the sleeves. I know that the design is simple but I love it regardless. I was overexcited and really looked forward to wear the dress on my wedding day along with the mantilla veil.

And speaking of the veil, back in the year 2006, I had saved a photo of mantilla veil that caught my attention at that time and would love to have quite the exact same one when my time finally comes. Alhamdulillah, I am very happy with the one that Unaisah made for she had delivered what I had imagined!


My taste may not the same as yours because each bride is different from one another. I know that I want something different from the usual and I am the kind of the person that would go for it. So I had it. And loved it. I don't care if it got me compliment or not because honestly it's not what I was looking for. But, one of my aunt did mentioned that my reception dress is so me. Phewww, glad that someone noticed! HAHA.

Next and final review on wedding dresses, my tandang dress.


p/s: That mantilla veil is up for rent!

{Video} Solemnization Highlight

Untitled from Mustaza Mustafa on Vimeo.

Of Groom's Reception

I know that I am supposed to continue with the reception dress review but since the photographer has still not update his blog on that, I shall put the entry on hold. But no worries, I will continue on the series of reviews on other stuffs then. But hehe, I still haven't decide on which one.

p/s: I am giving myself 1.5 months period to talk about the wedding and that's the max. We all have to move on sooner or later, am I right?

Can you believe that we have been married for two weeks? Two weeks y'all and the feeling is still surreal. Like when I woke up in the middle of the night surprised by the sight of a man sleeping next to me. Then I remember - oh, that's my husband. Talking about husband, I unconsciously addressed him as my boyfriend while talking to a colleague the other day. HAHA. So silly of me even when inai masih merah di jari. And people started addressing me "Puan" is hilarious. This whole married thing is still new to me and we are adjusting and adapting to it. This deserves an entry of it's own.

My tandang reception is tomorrow's night and we'd be donning songket since it's supposedly a traditional Malay wedding. I wish that I can invite some bloggers to the wedding but sadly I can't because it's a closed reception. Even some of my friends are not invited. So sorry since we have to make ways for PIL's relatives and friends. But I promise to share the pictures soon.

I am planning to make my own hand bouquet (again) but H is kinda against it since the hotel/decorator is already providing one. But I like my own touch considered that I have (almost) no say in anything else. You know, to add THAT personal touch. Or at least I feel the need to, just because I am individualistic like that. We'll see about that. Now that I am married, I have to obey my husband but I guess he'll understand his wife's off-center character soon. HEHE

Pray for me to never forget to act graceful so that I won't step on the bottom of my songket dress with my 4-inch heels and fall flat on my face. Or grin stupidly like I always do whenever I am nervous or anything that is not bride-ly. I had not behave like a (typical) bride during my reception or control ayu and had no regrets because that's just the way I am. But this event is my husband's event and I have to respect that and will put on my best behave (if there's any). HAHA.

So, good luck to me!

Review: Wedding Dresses Part 1

I bet by this time, it is no longer a secret and that most of you already knew that my solemnization and reception dresses were made by the most sought after, young and talented Unaisah Azlan.

When the uber talented Shaliza Mokhtar got married and did her review on her wedding dresses by Unaisah back in 2008, I was smitten by her dresses as I share the exact same sentiment with her. In her entry she wrote;

I knew that I wanted to wear something different than those lacey, heavily beaded kebaya or kurung that are so beautiful but let’s face it, every second bride in Malaysia wears almost the same thing.

And I vowed to myself that when my time finally comes, I will look for Unaisah. Years passed by and her name actually slipped from my mind. When I was still planning for my engagement in January, I read in one of the bride-to-be blog with the name Unaisah mentioned. Some how, the name ring a bell but I couldn't grasp where I first heard it. Then I remembered that Shaliza's entry and I immediately emailed Unaisah to book the slot. As I recall, she was quite eager when I mentioned that I first heard about her in Shaliza's blog and even more eager when I mentioned that my dresses (initially) are inspired from the 70's hippy bohemian era.

Well, what can I say, I am a hippy bohemian girl at heart.

Even in January she's already booked until July 2010. I was keeping my fingers crossed for the available slot. Then finally in early July we met up and she's this very friendly and bubbly girl. It was so easy to deal with her and I have only good things to say about her.

When we first met, I showed her all of the pictures that I had compiled as the inspiration for the dresses. I told her that I intended not to have lace, (heavy) beading or anything typical for my dresses. I want to have that minimalist, clean, elegant and sophisticated look that when I am old and fugly, I can look back at my wedding dress and found that it still looks relevant. Wah, berangan nak mampus. Ya ampun, poyonya aku. HAHA.

I also told her that I love pleats so much and wanted to incorporate that into the dress.

Weeks later, Unaisah emailed me her 3 pages full of sketches, each dress so unique and pretty that I have hard time choosing! I chose the simplest design for solemnization dress. The reception dress was a mix and match from 3 different designs then combined into one.

Months passed by and I was anxious about the outcome. I also had a mixed feeling because let's face it, my (reception) dress is not exactly wedding-ly apart from the colour. I know that the design is so me but I am afraid of the perception of others especially the elders. But boy, when I laid down my eyes on the dresses for the first time, I instantly felt in love with them though I had doubt about the solemnization dress at first.

The Solemnization DressIt a kurung moden with (initially) batwing sleeves. At first, I don't like the fact that it overly accentuate the broadness of my shoulder but Unaisah luckily understood and had them altered. It has simple and minimal beading around the waist and sleeves with a flared bottom. The material is french crepe because I wanna run away from the usual flowy chiffon. I love the material because it's heavy that the bottom falls nicely.
I know that for the fact that I didn't want to wear any veil during the nikah ceremony but felt like it's gonna be too bare without any. So I had Unaisah custom made my tudung for nikah. It is a long selendang with patch lace border around the face area and at the corner.

People commented how I "looked" like Hana Tajima during my solemnization. Seriously, I am flattered because Hana is so uberly pretty and stylish and I am not even close. Hehe. The idea of wearing the selendang like that is pretty spontaneous when one day I played with it during fitting session with Unaisah that she commented that I should wear mine exactly like that. So I did. And couldn't be happier especially when H commented how pretty I looked. Trust me, he rarely give such compliments so I was over the moon when he actually said those words. Yeah, I am such a sucker! Hehe


Coming up next, the review on the reception dress that I love to bits!

All photos via Fadza Ishak (official photographer)

{ Wedding Invitation }

With deepest and warmest gratitude, we would like to invite you to join and be part of our joyous and wonderful event. We would be honoured by your presence at our wedding reception.





Please email your address at snowyqueeny@yahoo.com for the wedding card distribution. Priority will be given for those who can attend.

Hope to see you all soon. Insya Allah.

Not So Wordless

I know today is a Wordless Wednesday but how can I be wordless when there are so much things going on lately?

First, today marks the 10th days countdown. Don't ask me how the preparation is going on because honestly it hasn't been progressing. Is it OK if we're more excited about (finally) moving in together? I know that H is. He's all stressed out over the incomplete furniture at our future shack that we went to IKEA for 2 weekends in a row! Not to mention that we spent a total of 6 hours cleaning and tidying up the place so that come 28th (insya Allah), the house will be ready - for us!

On the wedding part, I am glad because so far we managed to settle what we can ahead of time. All the weekly trips to Jalan TAR and Semua House were worth after all. My principle is simple - what I can control, I will control and make it a habit to plan ahead of the time. Insya Allah, you won't stumble. What I cannot control, I will leave it in the hand of God and pray that everything will be OK.

Sometimes I am scared of the slow pace that I am going. Orang lain macam makin dekat makin banyak kerja tapi aku siap boleh lepak mengeteh hari-hari dengan colleagues lagi. Apakah? Am I too relax? I don't feel any of the wedding jitters (yet). Am I not normal or it hasn't come yet to me? Apakah aku ini? Dahla tidak ada motherly instinct, bride instinct pun takde ke?

God, I had a row with my dad last week. A terrible one I must say. I don't normally believe in all the zodiac personal traits shit but I do kinda agree on this one. Taurians are stubborn creatures. Period. My dad and I are Taurians so when we had our opinions on something, it will take a whole load willpower and courage to change our mind. Just imagine when two Taurians had the mind of their own. Third World War I tell you! Suffice to say, when he came over the weekend, I was chicken shit to meet him but turn out he was OK. One thing I learned, Taurians are forgiver. Hehe. But I respect and love him regardless though I might not show it. He is my all time hero after all. Period.


10 days. Wow.

My hands are full, my eyes are tired

18 days.

Who would have thought? Every good thing must come to its end. But I say, the end is the new beginning of another wonderful journey. A halal one. Insya Allah.

I received a lot of questions from families and friends, one being - how's the wedding preparation?

Honestly I don't know how to really answer that question. My answer would normally rate the mood that I am on that particular day;

It's Ok. Alhamdulillah, doing fine. So far so good - is the normal response on a given good or slightly good day.

OMG, I am so sick of running here and there (and to the mile length of complaining) - is the typical response given on a bad, hectic and stressful day.

Hehe.

One of my friend is getting married this weekend. This year alone, about 10 friends are getting married. It seems that the age 27 is the settling down age for most of us. I personally think that age doesn't matter as long as you're ready to face the responsibility of living together and starting a family on your own. I never actually set any "target age" to settle down. I am more of a "go with the flow" kinda gal. That whenever I feel like I am ready, I am ready. Alhamdulillah, at 27, I feel like I am ready and so does H. Your partner readiness is very important as it determines where the relationship is heading to. I had friends who was ready to commit at the age of early 20's but her partner does not. When that happens, it's either one has to tolerate or parted ways. And it's always a sad thing to do.

I have drafted a lengthy entry on my wedding progress that needs tweaking here and there before it is finally being published. In comparison to some, mine is a simple one. I wish for a simple and fun, yet a barakah wedding, where formality is a foreign word. I still have not draft an event flow or any program, which is surprising considering how anal and perfectionist I can be when it comes to planning. Maybe at this late stage, with about slightly over 2 weeks to go, I am tired of planning. Maybe I come to realize that an event that is not thoroughly choreographed, with bits of flaws will eventually be a meaningful one. That flaws will finally become something that worth remembering for.

I know that deep down with my perfectionist and anal traits conflicting, I eventually have to drag my poor tired self to draft the program/event flow thingy and that I am just procrastinating. But isn't procrastinating a fun thing to do at the moment? I have had my hands full for several months, 10 months to be exact and it feels so damn good to not do anything at the moment.

Ah, the bliss.